Matamata Double - Prismatic Perfect

Completing a hat-trick of winning rides by Te Akau apprentice Niranjan Parmar, Prismatic (5 g Savabeel – Kaleidoscope, by Pins) took out the $18,500 Rating 75 1600 metres on 27 August at Matamata.

Successful in the previous race aboard stable-mate Malborough Bay (Darci Brahma), Parmar bided his time second last before sweeping into contention rounding the home turn and Prismatic responded gamely to grab a long head victory.

Freshened since finishing fourth in the Maiden Hurdle (2100m) on 1 July at Hastings, Prismatic had recorded an emphatic second-up victory in May at Te Rapa, winning the Rating 65 1600 metres, and is a horse that continues to get better with experience and maturity.

In the race sponsored by A P Gollan Registered Valuers, on footing that remained Soft6 throughout the eight race programme, Prismatic clocked 1:37.6, last 600m in 35.8, for 1600 metres, and paid $2.90 & $1.30 on the NZ TAB tote.

“I’m a firm believer that jumping can smarten some horses up mentally and it’s certainly the case with Prismatic,” said co-trainer Mark Walker. 

“Preparing him for the hurdle race at Hawkes Bay has been really beneficial and he’s switched on to what’s expected and in turn it’s made him more genuine on the flat.

“I think he’s in for a good campaign, with the aim of targeting the New Zealand Cup (3200m) in November at Riccarton, and possibly the Jericho Cup in Melbourne.”

A race that Walker also has in mind for stable-mate The Mighty Spar (Savabeel), who missed the start in the same event, the $304,000 Jericho Cup is a flat race over 4600 metres run on 3^rd December at Warrnambool, Victoria, the fourth Sunday after the Melbourne Cup.

Owned by Te Akau Prismatic Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), he was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $240,000 at the 2020 Karaka Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Rich Hill Stud. 

By eight-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel), Prismatic is from the family of 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) and dual Group One winner Xtravagant (Pentire), who was also purchased by Ellis and who now stands at Newhaven Park Stud in Australia. 

From a Pins (Snippets) mare, Prismatic is bred on the same cross as retired stable star and reigning dual Horse of the Year Probabeel, who made history winning the Karaka Millions at two and three years of age and became a quadruple Australian Group One winner. 

“It was a good effort by Mark (Walker) and Sam (Bergerson) to freshen him up following a hurdle race to win on the flat nearly two months later,” Ellis said.

“He was runner-up three times, consecutively, before winning his Maiden over 2200 metres last December, and showed to have developed and improved considerably in the manner of his win in May at Te Rapa.

“They’re not all two-year-old types and it’s these types of horses like Prismatic, who show consistency and genuine attributes but not quite the physicality to pull off a win, that get the job done once they mature.”

Prismatic was strapped by Kohen Collett. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz